Air-gapped platforms for AI apps: who needs one and how it works
An air-gapped platform runs your applications, databases and AI models on hardware with no connection to the internet. It suits defence, government, critical infrastructure and research labs that cannot let data or control reach outside. The trade-off is that updates, models and packages must be brought in deliberately, so the platform has to be built for offline operation from the start.
Who needs air-gapped hosting
- Defence and defence suppliers handling classified or export-controlled work.
- Government departments and PSUs with sensitive citizen or strategic data.
- Power, telecom, water and other critical infrastructure operators.
- Research labs and manufacturers protecting designs and process data.
What has to work offline
- Building apps. Package mirrors and build images held inside the network, so a release never reaches the internet.
- AI models. Open models run locally on your CPUs or GPUs, with no calls to outside AI services.
- Sign-in and secrets. Identity, two-factor and the secrets vault run inside the network.
- Security checks. Vulnerability data updated from verified offline bundles.
- Updates. Signed packages carried in on approved media, verified, then installed.
- Backups and monitoring. Encrypted backups to local targets, alerts on the internal network.
Air-gapped, private or cloud?
| Need | Best fit |
|---|---|
| Ship fast, data in India is enough | Nexovia Cloud |
| Data must stay on your premises, internet allowed | Nexovia Private |
| No internet connection at all | Nexovia Air-gapped |
What to check before you choose
- Does the vendor deliver updates as signed, verifiable offline packages?
- Can developers release apps the same way as on the cloud edition?
- Are AI models, build tools and vulnerability data all available offline?
- Who supports it, and how, without remote access?
Questions
Can you run AI models without the internet?
Yes. Open models run locally on your own CPUs or GPUs inside an air-gapped network, with no data sent to outside AI services.
How do updates reach an air-gapped platform?
As signed offline packages brought in on approved media. Your team verifies the signature before anything is installed.
Does Nexovia offer an air-gapped edition?
Yes. Nexovia Air-gapped runs the whole platform offline on your hardware. It is arranged directly with our team during early access.